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tv   News  Al Jazeera  May 18, 2015 12:00pm-12:31pm EDT

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>> the battle for ramadi iraqi shia militia getting ready to retake the city from isil fighters. >> you're watching al jazeera. also coming up, european ministers agree to use force on the high seas to beat the people smugglers. it's the end of the cease-fire in yemen the saudi coalition launching more airstrikes and says it won't be targeting other or airports. >> i'll be reporting on how the predominately nigerian market is
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doing business with unwanted goods from europe and america. >> they have been talking in brussels. the european ministers about ways to stop the people smugglers, those who have been sending thousands of migrants across the mediterranean, and in many cases to their deaths. there is a statement now by the e.u. foreign affairs minister, and we will listen in to what she has to say. >> the commission site, the agenda on migration was adopted as you know, last week, presented it, commission was sharing with us this presentation today but the focus today was obviously foreign defense ministers the external part of our work to. there are three different
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elements. one side, increase partnership with africa union and our countries. just yesterday we were discussing this with turkey, increasing levels of cooperation on managing flows of refugees and migrants. seconds, the decision to increase our presence with the missions and operations. it has been discussed and it has been decided already to increase our presence there last week. and last element among many others, the heads of states and governments asked me last month to prepare operations to dismantle the business model of all smuggling operations. less than one month later we adopted the crisis management concert and the decision to establish the operation with headquarters
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in rome and with commanders. the operation will consist of four phases. the decision we have just taken to establish the operation would be public. and so we'll have the chance of looking at that. this will allow us to continue or actually start the operation planning with the commander and headquarters, and to prepare for the launch of the operation itself. hopefully already at the next foreign affairs council in june we might be ready to adopt the launch of the operation. that will help to follow the recommendations so the work that the commander will have in the coming weeks. in the meantime the work of the
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security council and the united nations will continue with strong coordination of the e.u. member states and security council. we'll discuss also this, and i hope that in the meantime we might have the legal framework for launching the operation in all of its phases. we'll look at that not all the phases will require a chapter 7 resolution but as we refer to taking this decision into international law it is important to have that framework in place and framework with the libyan authorities. let me stress one thing and then i'll stop. i think it is an absolute recorded in terms of timing.
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establish an operation in less than one month. i think it's an absolute record in terms of time of, with you does not only mean that we've done great team work, i would like to thank all the services in brussels and coordination in new york as well to work hard, but this shows most of you will to me that when we have political will and determination to act quickly we can do it. so the european union can act together and fact in a fast proper way if the political will if the strong policy will and the will to work together as a team as european is there. this is just the beginning of it. establish an operation means that now the planning, the operational planning starts. and hopefully it will be launched by members of the
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member states already in june. i'll stop here and wait for your questions. >> the european union foreign policy chief confirming what many had suspected. there would an naval operation on the high seas of the mediterranean to, quote dismantle the business model of the human traffickers. the people smugglers those trying to get so many migrants into europe, and with the deaths of so many of them. it would be based in roam. now is the time she said to begin operational planning, and as we go to james bays, our diplomatic edit or live in new york. she made the point that this has to go before the united states because it could involve of use
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the military force particularly along the coast of libya. >> yes it has to be an u.n. resolution. she has said that before. in fact, she was here in new york a week ago briefing members of the security council with her over all plans so that she would then try to present a resolution or european unions of the security council would present an european position. europe all signed up to this plan as you say, to dismantle the business model of the smugglers. she has not talked directly about destroying boats, but we understand that is part of the plan. and the next bit is to try to get the authorization from the u.n. security council.
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already there has been work under way here. i can tell you that the four e.u. countries that sit on the security council than been has been doing drafting work on possible resolution, and we understand that it may well be circulated in the coming days with the rest of the u.n. security council. but as there were in brussels, there are also hurdles here in new york. the russian ambassador speaking in the last ten days or so, when he was told about the plans to destroy smuggleing ships, he thought that went too far although he supported the idea of trying to do something about these migrants at sea in the mediterranean. he felt that it may go too far. there may be russian objection which may an problem because russia has a veto. the other problem is libya itself which has two rival
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governments. one of those governments is one that controls the embassy here in new york. and the flippan ambassador says he has not been properly consulted about these plans so he needs to be won over, too. it's clear they have a plan they want to put forward but not clear whether they'll get it through the u.s. security council. >> even though she said it was done in record time, the job is not done yet. that's our diplomatic editor james bays in new york. >> the conflict in iraq is intensifying in. shia militia groups are based
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east of ramadi, and they, the shia militia are getting ready to retake ramadi. the u.s. coalition stepped up air raids in the air and cities in the last three days. iran, which backs the shia militias says it's prepared to help the iraqi government to confront isil if asked to do so. well, isil fighters advancing east from ramadi towards the base where the shia militias are getting ready for battle. we have the latest from baghdad. >> the deployment of shia militias is a controversial decision. there are many who are warning that this could cause tensions, the possibility of clashes between the sunni tribes and the shia militias. at the end of the day what it means is that the government has to rely on this force because
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it's regular forces are too weak which only shows how the militias are stronger than this state in iraq. the sunni influential leaders are warning against this, and they're asking to be armed and they want to take this fight up by themselves. >> more than 8,000 people have been displaced, and the human suffering is only worsening in this country. >> they were caught in the cross fire and now they have no place to go. according to the organization migration, 8,000 were forced to leave. but those headed back to baghdad are being questioned before being allowed back into the iraqi capital. they want to make sure that no fighters from isil make it into the city. >> why aren't we allowed to go to baghdad? aren't we in the same toronto?
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we can't cope. it's better to die than to live this life. >> anger towards the shia led governments runs deep. there is a feeling among people that they have been betrayed. >> we spent two days on the road. we were humiliateed by government check points along the way. we don't understand why they government forces retreated andrew out of ramadi. why did they do this? >> this video was released by the radical group. anbar seems to have been abandoned. now iraq's shia militias are now ready to.
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they were responsible for pushing isil from the provinces but they have been accused of human rights abuses, and many have not returned to their homes. in ramadi the regular army and the local police were no match for isil. many were seen escaping from the city. many sunni leaders are blaming the government for the fall of this city. >> right now we have very few options on the ground, but the best is to train armed local tribes. the only groups operating under the command of the prime minister is the shia militia coalition. unfortunately, the reluctance in bringing the local sunni tribes on board played a factor in the fall of ramadi, and the retreat of the iraqi security forces. that decision will alienate many sunni tribes.
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manythere is concern. >> it's a sunni area. there is ethnic dispute definitely before it's long about ten years. and there will an clash definitely between the tribes and the shia militia. secondly, it's more weakening the central governments. why. it's not the army that's getting in. >> ramadi was isil's first major gain. the united states which leads the coalition against isil insists it is confident that the area will be recaptured. al jazeera baghdad. >> posting online appears to
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show isil supporters celebrating success in ramadi. people can be seen waving flags. these pictures were filmed on sunday although lo we cannot independently verify that they are. >> police acquitted for contributing to the deaths of teenagers a decade ago. it brought rioting for two weeks in the paris suburbs.
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>> these are the top stories. european unions gray to launch a military operation to disrupt what it cause the bits model of smuggling people across the mediterranean. thousands of shia military try to retake ramadi from isil, which took control on sunday. now, to the great lakes region ever africa burundi's president has sacked ministers of his cabinet after a failed coup last week. protests against the president continued. they have been called to postpone next month's election after growing public unrest.
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we go to burundi's capital the president, when he was out of the country, think said that he was no longer president, but now he's back, and he has made his first public a appearance saying what? >> well, the days continue to be interesting. today he has announced he sacramentoed some ministers and appointed new ones. the security guards not far yeah from me are listening to radio radioing the big surprise is the defense minister. it's a civilian. people are wondering what is he trying to do? what is he trying to achieve. why appoint a civilian, someone who seem big has no experience in military matters? but the public seems to think that he'll try to appoint people who he thinks he can work with,
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possibly people he thinks he can trust. if there is another attempted coup they will stick by him and not try to stab him in the back. >> what does it feel like to be there, haru, at the moment? is there a sense of calm? protesting didn't look too heavy. what do you make of it there? >> this is a strange feeling. it's calm in some places, but you can feel the tension on the streets. what is interesting is you feel the anticipation of the protesters as they try to get onto the streets. a lot of people say they want to in big numbers but admit that they are established. they said when the president went to tanzania for a meeting to resolve the crisis here and then the attempted coup happened, they were happy. they said that he could not come back but now he did come back. he's clearly going to show with
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force that he's in charge, and they're concerned about that. they have issued a statement not long ago saying that anyone who guess on the streets and protests against the president wanting a third term won't be aligned with the coup process. that means it's going to get a lot more difficult for them on the ground. yet, they want to come you had in huge numbers, many are scared. more so because some of the leaders are in hiding or have left the country they're terrified. people on the ground are waiting to see what happens late. they say they'll protest but to be honest many we have spoken to say they want to, but they feel there will an major clamp down on protesters. >> thank you. yemen's foreign minister said that saudi-led airstrikes against houthi rebels will avoid air and sea ports. but strikes resume in yemen
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after a five-day cease-fire ended on sunday. they say these pictures show a houthi checkpoint being targeted. now iran says that it regrets there has not been an extension that have cease-fire, and two iranian warships have gun escorting an iranian cargo ship pound for yemen. the vessels packed with 2.5000 tons of humanitarian supplies the cargo ship is expected to read the port city on thursday. iran has been accused of arming houthi rebels, allegations which it denies. a french court has cleared two police officers for failing to help two teenage whose were electro cuted in a power substation. the deaths led to weeks of riots. the officers had been accused of
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not helping the boys. even though they were in danger of being in danger while approaching the power facility. >> when the verdict was announced there were very mixed reactions anguish and anger from the families of the two teenagers who died almost ten years ago in such tragic circumstances in a paris suburb. some friends of the two dead teenageers shouted that the police are above the law that there is no justice. that there is social apartheid in france. but the lawyer for the two acquitted policemen was adamant that there is was never the evidence against them, and that this case should never have come to trial. well, this court case has thrown a light on some of france's deepest wounds, the sense of alienation and racial divisions
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in in the poor suburbs particularly around paris and hostileity and towards the police. those issues are as relevant in 2015 as they were on that tragic night in october 2005. >> the prime minister of macedonia is due to be at a rally. opposition protesters have been camping outside of the parliament demanding his resignation. he's thought to be involved in a wire-tapping scandal. it's government is accused of spying on more than 2,000 citizens. u.n. secretary general ban ki-moon.
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>> thailand is not pushing anyone away. it has to be their own desire. human rights must be the key issue and it's important to take care of it. >> migrant crisis, the biggest in southeast asia since the vietnam war. it has taken a lenient approach but that is now changing and leaving many offering help rather than the government. we are on the border with thailand rob mcbride reports. >> they are the lucky ones who have fulfilled the dreams of so many ethnic rohingya migrants. they hold the paperwork that gives them a refuge from persecution, and paying work that gives them a way out of poverty. mohammed came here ten years ago.
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his son followed on a boat five years later. the experience of their friend three years ago is proof of how dangerous the danger can be. he told us he was shot by one of the traffickers in a fight over food. >> they should let them come in. they have resources to help. they should not push them away. >> there is widespread sympathy in malaysia with individuals and organizations starting campaigns to help the migrants. >> they're fellow human beings like you and me without food. and for months many have been duped to come this way for a better life. many have been suffering because of genocide. >> a week ago the fishermen of this village found themselves inundated by several hundred migrants by a boat that was beached nearby. they had never seen that many
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arrivals before. >> we're fellow muslims and the villagers wanted to help. >> on the beach where they scrambled ashore that night you still find evidence of their desperate arrival into malaysia. if they are to be reoperator repatriateed to myanmar it would be the only sign that they had been here. these new arrivals face a different fate. but the authorities have to hope that their message that newcomers will no longer be welcome will be stronger than poverty and persecution that they are facing facing. >> making massive profits were clothes from europe and the united states. it's a business so popular that people come all the way from west africa to buy out the second-hand items.
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let's hear now from emma who traveled to the capital. >> he came to togo 15 years ago from nigeria. he has raised $100 to help start his shoe business. >> i asked what he was doing in togo. he said selling this shoe. i said, can i do this. he said yes. >> most of the traders in the capital are from the east of nigeria. they built up a business empire in trading second-hand items. this is where unwanted goods from the u.s. and america end up. you can find thing from clothes shoes and bags, most of it is bought in bulk. they came with nothing 25 years
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ago. now he's importing goods every week. >> a lot of buyers come from cameroon nigeria ghana they come from mali and niger, from youall around. >> the trade has become an integral part of the economy yet it's dominated by outsiders. one analyst said it's because of the way the market has developed. >> traditionally women sold goods in the markets. nobody was selling second-hand goods. the foreigners came and found an opportunity and exploited that part of the market. >> he said he came because he had to survive. as long as customers keep coming the future is here. al jazeera togo. >> news from across the african
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continent, from all corners of the globe, you can see there bombing in yemen the stories out of india the interview with bill clinton former u.s. president. take a look at that, www.aljazeera.com. that's www.aljazeera.com. >> ramadi falls into isil hands. now the u.s.-led coalition steps up airstrikes trying to regain control. fall out from ferguson. the white house taking new steps to keep military grade weapons away from local police departments, and shutting down the port of seattle activists are doing everything they can to stop an oil rig from heading north to the arctic.